Author, philosopher, politician. Born 1881 in Oaxaca, Mexico; died 1959 in Mexico City. Graduated from law school in 1907. Vasconcelos, who served twice as Minister of Education and also held the position of Rector of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, exerted a profound influence on Mexican culture by promoting education for the lower classes and encouraging popular exposure to literature. He experienced his most productive years as an author during the 1930s, following an unsuccessful campaign for the presidency of Mexico in 1929.

Chronology27 Feb 1881born in Oaxaca, Mexico, to Ignacio Vasconcelos and Carmen Calderón Conde1887moved with family to Piedras Negras, Coahuila1888entered English-language primary school in Eagle Pass1895returned with family to Mexico City; briefly attended Instituto de Toluca1896moved with family to Campeche; entered secondary school at Instituto de Ciencias1898graduated from Instituto de Ciencias in Campeche1899entered Escuela Nacional Preparatoria in Mexico; family moved back to Piedras Negras, where his mother died1901entered Escuela de Jurisprudencia in Mexico City1905graduated with thesis,Teoría dinámica del derecho; worked as secretary and as law clerk, in Durango and in Mexico City1906in Tlaxcala, married Serafina Miranda of Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca1907admitted to bar; published Teoría dinámica del derecho28 Oct 1908with friends, founded the anti-Díaz Ateneo de la Juventud25 Apr 1909formally joined anti-Díaz Partido Nacional Antireeleccionista in Mexico City; named one of its Secretaries and co-director of its weekly periodical El Antireeleccionista, soon suppressed by Díaz1910published anti-Díaz Gabino Barreda y las ideas contemporáneas, resulting in President Díaz' order for his arrest; escaped to New York, returning to Mexico City after three months5 Oct 1910immediately backed Francisco I. Madero's Plan de San Luis Potosí1911pursued in Mexico City by Díaz' police, Vasconcelos closed his law office and relocated to Washington, D.C., authorized to continue working there for MaderoJuly 1911upon Díaz' resignation and Madero's triumph, Vasconcelos returned to Mexico City and re-opened his office; named president of the Ateneo de la Juventud2 Sep 1911Partido Nacional Antireeleccionista changed by Madero to Partido Constitucional Progresiva, Vasconcelos made vice-President of its executive committee6 Nov 1911Madero assumed the presidency of the republicOct 1912rebellion of Félix Díaz broke out with clandestine support of Victoriano Huerta, supposedly Madero's supporterJan 1913Vasconcelos futilely warned Madero in person against Huerta18 Feb 1913Huerta named President22 Feb 1913Madero assassinated26 Mar 1913V. Carranza issued Plan of Guadalupe repudiating Huerta; Vasconcelos sent as Carranza's confidential agent to London, Paris1914Vasconcelos named Director of Escuela Nacional Preparatoria by Carranza8 Oct 1914Refusing to support Carranza unconditionally, Vasconcelos resigned directorship, was jailed; escaped to AguascalientesNov 1914Convention of Aguascalientes named Gen. Eulalio Gutiérrez Presidente provisional de la República; Gutiérrez named Vasconcelos Minister of Public Instruction16 Jan 1915Gutiérrez and Vasconcelos escaped from Villistas in Mexico City20 Jan 1915Gutiérrez, declared no longer provisional president, escaped to United StatesApril 1915Gutiérrez sent Vasconcelos as his representative to Washington, D. C.; Vasconcelos subsequently resignedOct 1915U.S.A. officially recognized Carranza government in MexicoNov 1915Vasconcelos withdrew from public life1916published Pitágoras, una teoría del ritmo (Havana), Prometeo vencedor (Madrid); accepted post with Escuelas Internacionales, left for South America1917left Escuelas Internacionales, returned to New York1918earned living as corporate lawyer across U.S.; published El monismo estético (Mexico)1919abandoned professional life and relocated to California1920published Estudios Indostánicos and La caída de Carranza; de la dictadura a la libertad 21 May 1920Carranza killed in Mexico; Vasconcelos returned to Mexico City9 June 1920Adolfo de la Huerta, named provisional president, appointed Vasconcelos Rector of Mexico's Universidad Nacional18 June 1920Vasconcelos began formal campaign against illiteracy1 Dec 1920Obregón assumed presidency and placed national presses at disposal of the National University; Vasconcelos began monthly journal El Maestro, continued forming Secretaría de Educación1921Vasconcelos traveled constantly in Mexico promoting education9 Feb 1921began publication of series of classic titles in translation15 Apr 1921started free-breakfast program in Mexico's public schools27 Apr 1921produced shield and motto for National University, Por mi raza hablará el espíritu; began arranging for his elected successor20 Sept 1921inaugurated Primer Congreso Internacional de Estudiantes3 Oct 1921announced Acta Constitutiva de Federación de Intelectuales Latinoamericanos, served as president of steering committee12 Oct 1921ceased to be rector of UNAM; immediately appointed Secretary of Public Education1922published Divagaciones literarias (Mexico), Orientaciones del pensamiento en México (Córdoba, Argentina); set up libraries throughout Mexico; subsidized muralist movement of Rivera, Orozco, Siqueiros; patronized national folk arts, founded a national Symphony, carried out first census of indigenous regions and languages; designated special ambassador to South America1923established beginnings of National Polytechnical Institute in Mexico City; developed cultural missions in rural towns; named Maestro de la Juventud by students of Colombia, Peru, and Panama1924published Ideario de acción (Lima), La revulsión de la energia; los ciclos de la fuerza, el cambio y la existencia (Mexico); resigned as Secretary of Public Education, accepting candidacy for governor of Oaxaca, where he was popularly elected; central government refused to recognize him in office; began collaboration with periodical El universal, started his review La antorcha 1925published La raza cósmica (Barcelona); left Mexico for Europe via Cuba, traveled Spain, settled in Paris1926published Indología: una interpretación de la cultura iberoamericana and final issues of La antorcha; lectured by invitation in Central America and at the University of Chicago1927attended European anti-communist conference as Puerto Rican delegate; traveled Europe, lectured at University of Chicago1928continued as university lecturer across U.S., including political as well as academic topics; accepted nomination for president of Mexico from the Partido Nacional Antireeleccionista10 Nov 1928encouraged to return to public life, entered Mexico via Nogales1929published Tratado de metafísica (Mexico); campaigned along Mexico's Pacific coast, then central and northern states17 Nov 1929unanimously chosen President of the Republic, Vasconcelos was declared President-elect from Guaymas; opposed by both U.S. and central Mexican governments, returned to U.S., after issuing his Plan de Guaymas, advocating Mexican rebellion, from Nogales1930disillusioned with political efforts, left for Panama; lectured against U. S. imperialism and the Calles regime1931published Etica (Madrid), Pesimismo alegre (Madrid); went to Paris1933moved to Argentina; published Sonata mágica: cuentos y relatos (Madrid)1934published Bolivarismo y Monroismo: temas iberoamericanos (Santiago, Chile); in Chile, completed first volume of his autobiographical memoirs, Ulises criollo 1935published Estética and first volume of Ulises criollo (Mexico); entered U.S.A., moved to New Orleans, then to San Antonio, Texas1936moved to Austin, Texas; completed and published La tormenta (Mexico), second of four volumes of Ulises criollo 1937published Historia del pensamiento filosófico and Breve historia de México 1938published El desastre, third volume of Ulises criollo 1939moved to Mexico City; publishedEl proconsulado, completing Ulises criollo1940published Manual de filosofía and Páginas escogidas 1941published Hernán Cortés, creador de la nacionalidad; first wife died1943married the pianist Esperanza Cruz1945published Lógica orgánica and El viento de Bagdad 1946named director of Mexico's Biblioteca Nacional1952published Filosofía estética 1955published Temas contemporáneas 1957published En el ocaso de mi vida 1958elected vice-president of the Federación Internacional de Sociedades Filosóficas; published Don Evaristo Madero and an expurgated edition of his autobiography30 June 1959died at his home in Mexico City
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